My new best friend

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OK.. so I am still loving my homemade laundry soap.  I love the container I have it in too!  My dad gave it to me, it’s an old kitty litter container that has a lid that is hinged so you can just lift it up and you won't lose the lid and as a bonus, I can shove the nasty stuff in there and let it soak overnight and then just ring it out in the morning and wash. 

The other day I decided to wash the seat cushion to Mad’s booster seat, which wasn’t the best idea, I soaked it, then I used a brush attatchment from an old vaccuum cleaner.  I have no idea why I still had the brush but it worked great to scrub out some of the stains on the cushion.  It came out so clean!  The only reason I said it wasn’t a good idea to wash was because, of course, it shrank.  But it was really clean!! 

So… if you wanna be a hoarder like me and keep crazy things, sometimes there’s a good reason to keep them!  

*If you click the link above it will take you to the other post about the soap and it has the recipe.  The kitty litter container holds the whole 5 gallons of detergent.  When I have something that is stained, like when Mad eats a popsicle while wearing a white shirt, I toss it in there.  :)

Homemade Laundry Soap

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Have I mentioned before how much I love Pinterest!?!  I decided to try out the laundry detergent I found on there.  This one is for a liquid!  I didn’t have a 5 gallon bucket and I just wanted to make a small batch to try it out.  My husband is still a little skeptical.  I am hoping he will like it too!  I cut down the recipe and only made 1 gallon.

When I was cooking the soap to melt it, the whole house smelled so fresh and clean!  I loved that!  I was wondering if I would need to add a fragrance to it, I love scented laundry soap, but this clean smell is really nice!  I am loving it!!  I am having a hard time leaving it alone and letting it sit.  It is supposed to sit overnight and then stir it again. I put mine in my 1 gallon Tea Pitcher with the spout.  Was hoping I could just pour it out but I think I will have to put it in jugs so I can shake it before I pour it.   I can’t wait to try it out!  Hoping I will love it and will make up the full recipe this weekend!  At least when I run out and need more I will only have to pay $1 for the Fels-Naptha soap bars! 

Some people where asking me where I found all my stuff.  Our Wal-Mart actually had it all!  Actually I think I got the Borax at Crest, our grocery store, but I do think Wal-Mart has it as well.  Total cost of everything was about $12 but I have pretty much the whole box of Borax and Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda, so I will be searching some more recipes.  I did find a dishwasher soap recipe that used those but it called for the whole box of both… maybe I will cut that down too! 

So… if you make the full batch it should last up to a year.  One recipe I was looking at said it lasted her about 9 months but she has 3 boys.  But still, $12 for 9 months of laundry detergent!?!  Really?  Come on, that is still saving a lot!!

Here’s the link for the detergent

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

She even has links on where to find stuff if you can’t find it at stores near you!

 And here is the recipe from The Duggar Family Site 

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Off to make some of my own dryer sheets now!  Will post about that later!

*since I had most the laundry already done I have only gotten to do 1 load with this soap.  I like it.  It seems to be doing just like the more expensive stuff.   I am surprised that I like the plain clean smell to it too.  So far so good!  Will let you know when I get to use more of it.


* As of Nov 15th I am still loving it!  I love the bucket too because you can toss stuff in to soak overnight.  Posting about that here...